Toy pistols

ABSTRACT

A toy pistol includes spring-loaded cylinder comprising an inner part which is fixed in an axial direction and is provided with a ring of firing pins for the reception of a ring of caps. An outer shell surrounds the inner part and is capable of sliding in a longitudinal direction between a forward position in which its rear edge is overlapped by a part of a ring of caps in position on the firing pins and a rearward position, movement into which frees the ring from the firing pins. The outer shell may be spring-loadd into its forward position. Also the inner part may be formed with a ring of teeth for cooperation with an indexing finger on the hammer mechanism.

United States Patent [1 1 Eagles Dec. 11, 1973 TOY PISTOLS PrimarExaminer Ben'amin A. Borchelt 75 IetzHr hnWrll El Y J n z g 'lf g 8gAssistant Examiner-C. T. Jordan Attorney-Roberts B. Larson et a]. [73]Assignee: The Crescent Toy Company Limited [22] Filed: Nov. 17, 1971[57] ABSTRACT [21] Appl. No.: 199,608 A toy pistol includesspring-loaded cylinder comprising an inner part which is fixed in anaxial direction [30] Fnrei n A cation Priotit Dam and is provided with aring of firing pins for the recep- 8 pp A y tion of a ring of'caps. Anouter shell surrounds the Dec. 15, 1970 Great Britain 59,550/70 inner pand is capable of sliding in a longitudinal direction between a forwardposition in which its rear [52] US. Cl. 42/58, 42/54 edge is overlappedby a part of a ring of caps in posi [51] hit. Cl. F4lc 3/06 tion on thefiring p and a rearward Position, move [58] Fleld 0 Search 42/58, 54ment into which frees the g from the firing pins. The outer shell may bespring-loadd into its forward [56] References Cted position. Also theinner part may be formed with a IT STATES PATENTS ring of teeth forcooperation with an indexing finger 2,855,715 10/1958 Weimer 42/58 onthe hammer mechanism. 2,977,950 4/1961 Ryan 42/58 3,225,480 12/1965Ferri et al. 42 52 2 Claims, 2 Drawmg Flgures I l .TOY PISTOLS Untilrecentlytoy pistols have commonly used paper caps" either in strip. orsingle form. Another form of caps which is gaining in popularitycomprises a number of small plastic cups which are moulded integrallywith a supporting member in the form of a ring. Each of the cupscontains a small quantity of explosive at the closed end and fits over afiring pin in the cylinder of the pistol. For example there may be atotal of twelve cups in the which over a corresponding ring of twelvefiringpins in the cylinder of the pistol. Such caps as they are knownare more expensive than paper caps and a higher degree ofperformance'isexpected'to justify the additional expense. After all thecaps in the ring have been fired there is usually a certain amount ofdifficulty in removing the spent ring from the cylinder of the pistol.This is partly because the individual cups need to be a fairly close fiton their firing pins and partly because the firing of the explosivetends to increase the adhesion.

According to the present invention the cylinder of a toy pistol intendedfor use with caps of the type just described includes a cylindercomprising an inner part which is fixed in an axial direction and isprovided with a ring of firing pins for the reception of a ring of capsand an outer shell which surrounds the inner part and is capable ofsliding in a longitudinal direction. In its forward position the rearedge of the shell is overlapped by a part of a ring of caps in positionon the firng pins and when slid rearwardly the movement frees the ringfrom the firing pins. The rearward movement of the complete ring removesthe individual caps from their firingpins andthus allows the ring as awhole to be removed without difficulty.

Preferably the outer shell is spring loaded into its forward positionand consequently has to be slid rear- "wardly against the action of thespring. Consequently assoon as a ring has been removed, the outer shellautomatically returns to its forward, operative position ready for theinsertion of a fresh ring of caps and further operation of the pistol.

A construction in accordance with the invention will now be described byway of example with reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a longitudinal cross section through the cylinder of a toypistol, thesurrounding structure of the pistol being shown in outline;and,

FIG. 2 is an end viewof the cylinder with a ring of caps inposition andshown partly broken away.

The mechanism illustrated in the drawings forms part of a toy pistoldescribed in more detail in the concurinder comprises an inner portion 4which is fixed in a longitudinal direction between a washer 5 and arivet 6. The part 4 is of generally T-shaped cross-section, the mainlimb 7 of the T fitting around the axle 3 and the cross member 8 beingformed with a ring of firing pins 12 for the reception of a ring-typecap 13 seen in section in FIG. 1 and partly broken away in FIG. 2.

The cap 13 comprises a ring of plastic cups 14, two of which are seen inFIG. I, and each of which contains a small quantity of gun powder 15which is consequently located between the end of the cup and the end ofthe respective firing pin 12 so as to be exploded 7 when struck by thehammer of the pistol (not shown).

The cross member 8 is also formed with a ring of teeth 16 forcooperation with an indexing finger on the hammer mechanism, by means ofwhich the cylinder is rotated step by step each time the pistol isfired. This type of indexing mechanism is well known in itself.

The part 4 is-surrounded by an outer shell 20 which is capable ofsliding on the central limb 7 of the part 4, but is prevented fromrotating by a series of flats shown as 21 on the outer surface of thelimb 7 and the inner surface of a central portion 22 of the shell 20.The shell 20 is loaded by means of a coiled spring 24 into its forwardposition where further forward movement is prevented by the washer 5.During normal operation of the pistol the two parts 4 and 20 rotatetogether and to external appearances constitute a normal construction ofcylinder. The shell 20 is, however, capable of rearward sliding movementagainst the action of the spring 24 into the position shown in dottedlines as 20'. The rear end of the shell 20 is overlapped by a series oflips 26 formed on the cap 13 as best seen in FIG. 2. Consequentlyrearward movement of the shell 20 moves the complete ring 13 with it,thus freeing the individual cups from their firing pins 12, the removedring being shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1 as 13' and as including a cup14'. In other words, as soon as a complete ring has been fired, it ismerely a question of sliding the shell 20 rearwardly to remove the spentring after which it can be replaced very simply by means of a new ringand operation of the pistol can continue.

I claim:

1. A toy pistol including a cylinder, said cylinder comprising an innerpart, means for fixing inner part in an axial direction, said inner parthaving a ring of firing pins for the reception of a cap ring, and saidcylinder also comprising an outer shell which surrounds said inner partand means mounting said shell for sliding movement in a longitudinaldirection between a forward position in which its rear edge is levelwith the rear edge of said ring of firing pins and a rearward position,whereby movement into said rearward position frees a cap ring from saidfiring pins.

2. A toy pistol according to claim 1, in which said outer shell hasspring means for spring-loading it into its forward position.

* t =0 II

1. A toy pistol including a cylinder, said cylinder comprising an innerpart, means for fixing inner part in an axial direction, said inner parthaving a ring of firing pins for the reception of a cap ring, and saidcylinder also comprising an outer shell which surrounds said inner partand means mounting said shell for sliding movement in a longitudinaldirection between a forward position in which its rear edge is levelwith the rear edge of said ring of firing pins and a rearward position,whereby movement into said rearward position frees a cap ring from saidfiring pins.
 2. A toy pistol according to claim 1, in which said outershell has spring means for spring-loading it into its forward position.